The King's Pet

Chapter 23: For My Own Sake

Hyunjin' P.O.V

Bheka, his adviser Nita, Sara and I were the first to arrive at the meeting hall. I must admit I was still holding onto the hope that Jian didn't call the meeting to talk about Makita and was looking to discuss something completely different. On the way to the meeting hall I had told Sara the full story of what happened when Makita went missing, just so she wouldn't be surprised when Jian started speaking and she put two and two together.

After waiting ten minutes the other monarchs, their advisers and two of the three Central Kingdom Elders, Theresa and Roman, joined us in the hall—Jian walking in with an obvious limp no doubt caused by Makita stabbing his thigh. Once we were all seated Elder Roman stood to greet and welcome us to the meeting. "It's always good to see you leaders in one place. Seeing as no other issues were brought to neither myself nor Elder Theresa, we will hear King Jian's request first. Should anything else be the matter, we will tackle it after we've resolved the first issue. King Jian, the floor is yours." He announced before taking his seat.

Jian stood up, his usual cocky expression replaced by a scowl. "Thank you Elder Roman, as you all know I gifted Queen Kassandra a jester from my kingdom as a sign of good faith after signing the peace treaty between our kingdoms late last year. While I know it is considered morally bankrupt to do so, I must ask for him back. Some months ago, the jester came to my kingdom and infiltrated my castle. He broke into my room, threatened me with knives from my own kitchen and stabbed me in my left thigh, hence my unsightly limp. I want him back so he may face his punishment for treason against the South-West and the assault of a monarch." Jian explained, just as I'd expected.

Sara looked to me knowingly and put her hand on mine underneath the table, her sign for me to stay quiet. I listened to her advice and didn't say anything, keeping up the ruse of ignorance. "King Jian, I empathise deeply with your situation and I would love to hand him over to you. However, he is no longer my property. I gifted him to King Hyunjin earlier this year, after he aided in my understanding of one of his 'Just Rule' policy concepts. You would have to ask him for the jester." Kassandra revealed, making Jian narrow his eyes at me. "Well King Hyunjin?" He asked expectantly.

Sara removed her hand from mine, giving me the go ahead to speak. I stood up and faced Jian with as neutral a look as possible. "Unfortunately Makita is his own person in my Kingdom, not property. So unless you can give me definitive proof of his actions being unjust, I cannot allow his extradition." I replied with an even tone, which seemed to annoy Jian as he rolled his eyes. "If you believe he did it, why defend him? Is he your lover or something, he is guilty! Ask him and I'm sure he'll admit it, he's never been good at lying." He pushed back. Sara tried to get me to sit back down so she could advise me, but I decided it would be best to just speak.

"He is my lover." I replied nonchalantly, shocking Jian and the rest of the council that didn't already know of my relationship with Makita. "You turned a jester gifted to you into a male concubine?! Ha! A goat would make a better lover than that little man! He never relaxed, always so stiff." Jian laughed heartily and I had to breathe deeply to keep from lunging at him for speaking on Makita's name so disrespectfully. "King Jian I must ask that you refrain from referring to my kingdom's Prince in that way. Otherwise you'll have to request another meeting to get me extradited, though I'm not sure you'll physically be able to." I threatened calmly, trying to keep my anger at bay.

Jian looked appalled by the statement but I wasn't sure if it was my threat or the revelation of Makita's royal title that disgusted and shocked him. It was probably both but before he could say anything, Elder Theresa diffused the situation. "King Jian, seeing as this Makita is now a royal partner, language like that is not acceptable. King Hyunjin, please refrain from making such threats, let u all be civil and respectful of each other and our partners." She said, looking at us both with narrow eyes. We bowed in apology before looking back at each other.

"Regardless of the jest—I mean, of Prince Makita's new title, he still committed a crime against me and my kingdom. He could've killed me and seeing as King Hyunjin hasn't denied his actions, I feel the council can vote in favour of the prince's extradition to the South-West." He spoke cockily, with a sly smirk across his face and spite in his eyes. "Well it would be easy to vote in favour of something like that when you haven't given the full story." I replied making him scoff. "It's as clear as day King Hyunjin, your prince, threatened my life and stabbed me in the leg! What more is there to it?" He retorted with his arms crossed over his chest.

"Makita told me his reasons and personally I think he was well within his right." I answered firmly. "Excuse me?" Jian questioned, clearly offended. "Council, I have proven to you all how the past practices of our kingdoms are inhumane and unjust. For the most part you have all agreed with me and ceased the practices, however King Jian has refused. While within his right, his brutalisation and victimisation of his own people cannot go without consequence, it logically doesn't make sense. I would argue Makita was his consequence." I began, turning to face everyone so I would be better received.

"My Prince grew up an orphan, having been told his parents were criminals. In reality his parents were resistance leaders in the jester breeding camps King Jian had set up, they died in their fight for liberation and humanity. Makita and other orphan jesters' fathers were hung in front of everyone as an example of what happens when King Jian's word is disobeyed and their mothers died giving birth to them. Those parents were murdered not only for resisting King Jian's breeding schedule but for having children out of love instead of instruction. Put yourself in his shoes, imagine your king lied to you about your life for his own selfish reasons, violated you, tricked you—what would you have done after fourteen years of abuse from a sadistic king? What I've told you today doesn't come anywhere near the full gravity of the horrible things King Jian had subjected Makita to. I for one cannot in good conscious hand him over to his abuser!" I finished, beside myself with anger and passion.

"And for the record, Jian, Makita only threatened you because he knew you would rather your life be threatened before you'd be a decent human being and tell him the truth about his parents. You are not a victim, you are a villain getting his due!" I added firmly, dropping Jian's title as a disrespectful sign of my clear disdain for him. He remained silent, prompting the elder who diffused us earlier on to stand and speak after I sat down. "Thank you for the insight King Hyunjin. With it, I call a fifteen minute recess for the monarchs to decide their vote. If the majority vote in favour of Makita's extradition it will be so without further argument." She announced.

"Elder Theresa, I am already decided." Bheka spoke up immediately, Queen Kassandra and Monarch Arabi following suit. "King Jian, King Hyunjin?" She asked. "I am decided." Jian said and I declared the same. "Then the five of you may vote now. All in favour of Makita's extradition to King Jian and the South-West kingdom to face punishment, raise your hand." She said. To my absolute relief, only Jian had his hand up—the rest of us empathising greatly with Makita. I let go of a breath, happy that my lover was protected.

"All in favour of pardoning Makita, raise your hand." She said next and the rest of us put our hands up. "Well, that is that then." She announced with clasped hands but before she could adjourn the meeting, Jian spoke up. "Elders I must protest to this ruling! Allow me to make an offer to King Hyunjin, if he denies I will speak of the matter no longer." He requested desperately. The elders looked at each other shortly, before one gestured for him to continue and he turned to me.

"I will give you what you've always wanted from me if you surrender the jester to me. I will move my entire kingdom to 'Just Rule' as soon as I have him in my possession." He said, taking me aback. I never would've expected him to make such an offer. All I'd ever wanted was that. If I took the offer, millions would be liberated and I would basically complete the one goal I had since my crowning.

Everyone looked at me expectantly, Sara and Bheka looking particularly desperate to hear my decision as they truly knew how much I wanted to fulfil my life's purpose but also how much I cared for Makita. "King Hyunjin, what will it be?" Jian asked arrogantly, figuring he had one up on me. I opened my mouth to speak, more than prepared to make the sacrifice I knew I had to.

For my own sake.

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